USPTO Patents Application 08873597

Currently Pending Claims:

Claims 1-18: (Canceled)

19. (Currently Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises;

i. a single stranded nucleic acid covalently attached to said electrode via an
insulator, wherein said first electrod e further compris e s wherein said insulator
is an alkvl oligomer wherein each monomer of said alkyl oligomer is
independently selected from the group consisting of: -(CHA-, -(CRHV, -
(CR2)n-, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other
heteroatoms in place of oxygen: wherein n is from 1 to 16: and wherein R is
selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol, aromatic
amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties,
halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties, and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said first and second electrodes.

20. (Currently Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises!

i. a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first
electrode via an insulator, wherein said first e l e ctrod e furth e r compris e s
wherein said insulator is an alkvl oligomer wherein each monomer of said
alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group consisting of: -
(CEby . -(CRH)n-, -(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives
using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen: wherein n is from 1 to 16: and
wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol,
aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon
moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous containing
moieties :

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

iii. wh e r e in said nucleic acid further compris e s a covalently attached first
electron transfer moiety; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.

21. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26, further comprising:

a processor coupled to said electrodes.

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22. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26, wherein said AC/DC
voltage source is capable of delivering frequencies from between about 1 Hz to about 100 kHz.

Claims 23-25: (Canceled)

26. (Currently Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises!

i. a covalently attached first single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first
electrode via an insulator , wherein said insulator is an alkvl oligomer wherein
each monomer of said alkvl oligomer is independently selected from the
group consisting of: -(CH?y, -(CRHV. -(CR2W. ethylene glycol and
ethylene glycol derivatives using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen;
wherein n is from 1 to 16: and wherein R is selected from the group consisting
of hydrogen. alkvL alcohol, aromatic amino, amido. nitro. ethers, esters,
aldehydes, sulfonyl silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties,
phosphorous containing moieties: and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) a second nucleic acid covalently attached to an electron transfer moiety; and

c) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.
Claims 27-32: (Canceled)

33. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

34. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises insulators.

35. (Currently Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising an array of electrodes, each
electrode comprising

i. a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid,
attached to said electrodes via an insulator,
wherein said insulator is an alkvl oligomer
wherein each monomer of said alkvl oligomer is
independently selected from the group consisting
of:-(CHA-. -(CRffln-. -(CR2y. ethylene
glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other
heteroatoms in place of oxygen: wherein n is from

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1 to 16; and wherein R is selected from the group
consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol, aromatic
amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes,
sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur
containing moieties, phosphorous containing
moieties; and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test
chamber.

Claims 36-38: (Canceled)

39. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

40. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises insulators.

41. (Previously Presented) An apparatus accordingly to claim 19 further comprising,

c) a second nucleic acid covalently attached to an electron transfer moiety.

42. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises alkyl chains.

43. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according claim 42 wherein said alkyl chains have the
formula C n H X) where n is 1 to 30, and x is 2(n).

44. (Currently Amended) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises terminal groups chosen from the group consisting of -
(CtbV, -(CRH)n-, -(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other
heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is greater than from 1 to 16 , and wherein R is selected
from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers,
esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous
containing moieties, and ethylene glycol moieties .

45. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises both conductive oligomers and insulators.

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